Francesco Buonamici

Francesco Buonamici (1596 – 26 June 1677) was an Italian Baroque architect, painter and engraver who was active in Lucca, Malta, Sicily and Rome during the 17th century. He played a significant role in the introduction of Baroque in Malta.

Biography

Buonamici was born to Antonio Buonamici and Anna Pistelli in Lucca in 1596.

In Malta, Buonamici designed the Church of the Jesuits in the capital Valletta when it was rebuilt after being damaged in a gunpowder magazine explosion in 1634, He was involved in the internal remodelling of Church of San Romano which was carried out between 1661 and 1666, although his exact role is unclear. Buonamici died on 26 June 1677 at the age of 81 and he was buried at the Suffragio church in Lucca.

Works

Buildings known to have been designed by Buonamici include: Church of the Suffragio, Lucca Church of St Nicholas, Valletta Hostel de Verdelin, Valletta (attributed) Monte di Pietà, Valletta (attributed) Triumphal arch and fountains at Ġnien is-Sultan, Valletta Alterations to the palace of Giovanni Antonio Capobianco, Syracuse Cappella del Santissimo Sacramento, Cathedral of Syracuse Church of Santa Maria della Concezione, Syracuse (designed by a Michelangelo Bonamici, possibly a reference to Francesco Buonamici or a relative) Courtyard of the , Palermo Façade of the , Trapani Interior of the , Messina